Apple has launched its latest 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models powered by the new M5 chip in the Global Market, including India, succeeding last year’s M4 versions. The company has eliminated the 256GB base variant, with storage now starting at 512GB, alongside upgraded wireless capabilities.
Key Specifications and Hardware Enhancements -
The refreshed MacBook Air lineup maintains its fanless aluminum design and continues to be offered in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. Notable hardware upgrades include:
- Expanded Storage - Base configurations now start at 512GB of SSD storage, double the previous 256GB entry point. Apple claims the new SSD delivers up to twice the read and write speeds. Storage options scale up to 4TB.
- Enhanced Wireless Connectivity - The devices feature Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, adding support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
- Ports and Battery Life - Both models include two Thunderbolt 4 ports with support for up to two external displays, a MagSafe charging port, and up to 18 hours of battery life.
M5 Chip Performance Highlights -
The M5 processor incorporates a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. Apple states that each GPU core now includes a dedicated Neural Accelerator optimized for AI workloads and large language models (LLMs) running locally. The chip supports up to 153GB/s of memory bandwidth — a 28% increase over the M4.
Apple’s performance estimates for the M5 MacBook Air include -
- AI Processing - Up to 4× faster AI performance compared to the M4 MacBook Air, and up to 9.5× faster than the M1 model.
- Video Enhancement - Up to 1.9× faster AI-powered video enhancement in Topaz Video versus M4 (and 6.9× faster than M1).
- 3D Rendering - Up to 1.5× faster ray-traced rendering in Blender compared to M4 (and 6.5× faster than M1).
- Image Editing - Up to 1.5× faster performance in Affinity compared to M4 (and 2.7× faster than M1).
- Web Browsing - Up to 50% faster browsing speeds compared to PC laptops running Intel Core Ultra X7 processors.
Apple MacBook Air 13″ and 15″ (M5) specifications -
| Display | 13.6″ (2560×1664 pixels) / 15.3″ (2880×1864 pixels) Liquid Retina display, 224 PPI, True Tone, Wide colour (P3), 500 nits brightness |
| Processor | Apple M5 chip – 10-core CPU (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores), 8-core GPU / 10-core GPU options, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Memory | 16GB / 24GB unified memory (Configurable up to 32GB) |
| Storage | 512GB SSD (Configurable up to 1TB or 2TB) |
| OS/UI | macOS |
| Keyboard & Input | Magic Keyboard, Touch ID, Force Touch trackpad |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support, 1080p HD video recording |
| Audio | Six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, Spatial Audio support with Dolby Atmos on built-in speakers, Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking (AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max), Three-mic array with directional beamforming, Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes, Enhanced voice clarity, 3.5mm headphone jack with high-impedance support |
| Ports | Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports supporting Charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gbps), USB 4 (up to 40Gbps), MagSafe 3 charging port |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Battery | 53.8Wh (13″) / 66.5Wh (15″) lithium-polymer battery, Up to 15 hours wireless web, Up to 18 hours video streaming, 30W USB-C Power Adapter (with M5 8-core GPU), 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter (with M5 10-core GPU) |
Pricing and Availability -
Both the MacBooks come in four color options: Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and new Sky Blue colours. Orders can be placed via apple.com/store and the Apple Store app in 33 countries and regions, including India, beginning Wednesday, March 4. Deliveries and in-store availability at Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers will commence on Wednesday, March 11.
MacBook Air 13″ (M5 Chip) Prices are -
- 16GB RAM/512GB Storage/10-Core CPU/8-Core GPU – Rs. 1,19,900
- 16GB RAM/512GB Storage/10-Core CPU/10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,29,900
- 24GB RAM/512GB Storage/10-Core CPU/10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,49,900
MacBook Air 15″ (M5 Chip) Prices are -
- 16GB RAM/512GB Storage/10-Core CPU/10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,49,900
- 24GB RAM/512GB Storage/10-Core CPU/10-Core GPU – Rs. 1,64,900
